Bears' Christmas comes early

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, November 24, 1996

Despite losing five of its last six games and getting blown out of the Big Game by Stanford on Saturday, Cal was invited to play in the Aloha Bowl in Honolulu on Christmas Day.

The Bears have to be thankful. They have to thank coach Steve Mariucci and his imaginative offensive scheme. They have to thank quarterback Pat Barnes for setting all those records. And, get this, they should thank their inept defense.

"We don't want defense," Aloha Bowl executive director Marcia Klompus said. "Defense is not something people look for here. We want to see a lot of scoring and an exciting game."

The Aloha Bowl, which had the fourth and final selection among Pac-10 teams, chose Cal over Oregon, the only other bowl-eligible conference team. The teams finished with identical overall and conference records (6-5, 3-5), but Oregon had trounced Cal two weeks ago and finished the season with a three-game winning streak.

Klompus cited several other reasons for inviting the Bears.

"They have a nice fan base here, and it's an easy flight from the West Coast. We think they can put cheeks in the seats," Klompus said. "And they have a high-powered offense. We consistently have the fifth-highest TV ratings among all bowl games and what turns people on is offense."

Mariucci, dejected after the Big Game loss, wasn't one to argue with the Aloha Bowl's decision-making process.

"We're still playing," said Mariucci, who was in athletic director John Kasser's office two hours after the game when the invitation was extended. "We're gonna get the practices we need and end the season on a positive note. It's our first year here and to be able to go to a bowl - we're delighted to have the opportunity."

Cal's Aloha Bowl opponent will be the fifth team from the Big 12 Conference, most likely Texas Tech or Texas A&M. Since Texas A&M will have to beat Texas on Friday to be bowl-eligible, that slot won't be determined until next weekend at the earliest.

Several developments Saturday also aided the Bears' cause. USC, which blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead against UCLA, became ineligible for a bowl berth after losing in double overtime. Both Washington State and Arizona were deleted from the bowl picture after losses. And Kasser's season-long liaison with the Aloha Bowl probably also played a significant role.

"I feel we're very fortunate," said Kasser, who began building a relationship with the Aloha Bowl two seasons ago when it signed a six-year deal with the Pac-10. "But a lot of it had to do with where Steve has taken our program in a short period of time. And a lot of it had to do with Pat Barnes. I think they want us because we've become a national excitement."

There was little excitement in the Cal locker room after the Big Game loss. Most players only had faint hopes of playing again after the 42-21 defeat. Defensive tackle Brent Jones, for one, couldn't even make a sound argument for why Cal should be in a bowl game.

"Actually I have no argument," he said. "We lost five of six and we haven't played well lately.

"I don't want it to end, though. I know (the bowl selection process) will be political and hopefully the Aloha Bowl will take us because we're in a bigger market and all of that. I'll feel blessed if we go to a bowl."

Mariucci said his team will take some time off to recuperate from injuries before resuming practice Dec. 6. Then, the Bears will need to work on some things.

"When you have a bowl game it's like extra spring ball," Mariucci said. "We have to get healthy, to get coached up and the defense will get better.

"This is a real positive for our program. You go from as low as you can be, and now this certainly is a treat."